Summary
Victor Timely is set up as a key antagonist in Marvel's Loki season 2 as one of the many multiversal variants of Kang the Conqueror.
In the original Marvel Comics, Victor Timely was a pseudonym formed by a different version of Kang, utilizing his understanding of time travel and futuristic advancements to build a reputation as a prominent figure in the field of robotics and industry.
The portrayal of Victor Timely in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), portrayed by Nathaniel Richards, suggests that he is a specialist in time travel and is anticipated to have involvement in the ongoing time crisis faced by the TVA (Time Variance Authority), potentially utilizing the TVA to further his advancements within the multiverse.
Victor Timely, a key antagonist introduced in Marvel's Loki season 2, has gained significant attention since being hinted at in the post-credits scene of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. It is believed that Victor Timely is one of the numerous multiversal versions of Kang the Conqueror, portrayed by Jonathan Majors. Similar to He Who Remains in Loki's first season, Timely is expected to have a major impact on the upcoming season and the overall future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
In Loki season 1, we saw the variant of Loki named Sylvie, portrayed by Sophia Di Martino, make the decision to kill He Who Remains, also known as Nathaniel Richards. He was the hidden mastermind behind the Time Variance Authority (TVA), responsible for maintaining the Sacred Timeline in order to prevent the creation of various dangerous variants (like Kang) that could potentially ignite a devastating multiversal war. Unfortunately, the death of He Who Remains has now unleashed his many variants, as evidenced in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, resulting in the rewriting of reality within the TVA itself before the events of Loki season 2. With this in mind, let's delve into Victor Timely's backstory in the comics, his powers, and his role in the expanding MCU.
Victor Timely's Marvel Comics History Explained
In the original Marvel Comics, Victor Timely was a pseudonym created by an alternate version of Kang in The Avengers Annual #21 from 1992. After suffering yet another defeat at the hands of the Avengers, Kang assumed the alias of Victor Timely and traveled back in time to 1901 to establish the town of Timely, Wisconsin. As the town's mayor, Victor became an influential industrialist and founded Timely Industries, utilizing his knowledge of time travel and futuristic technologies such as robotics.
Operating from his town and factories in the 20th century, Victor Timely devised a plan to gradually conquer the world in the past, ensuring his dominion in the present. Over time, Timely implemented the use of robotic proxies to manage his company, with each generation being replaced by "sons" who carried on the legacy as "Victor Timely Jr." and so on. As a result, Kang Industries became responsible for the security systems at both the Baxter Building and Avengers Tower, and numerous advancements in robotics were pioneered over the years.
Victor Timely's Powers Explained
Ultimately,
Victor Timely Comics Changes Explained
, this specific rendition of Kang lacks prominent superhuman abilities in the original Marvel Comics. However, his exceptional intellect empowered Victor Timely to dominate the 20th Century by leveraging his futuristic knowledge and advanced technologies, surpassing the accomplishments of renowned figures like Henry Ford and Thomas Edison. Essentially, this Kang variant resembled Marvel Comics' supervillain representation of Nikola Tesla. Similarly, his establishment as a robotics-focused industrialist in 1901 granted him immense power once his company caught up with the present, enabling him to exploit it to his advantage.It appears that in the MCU, Victor Timely is portrayed as an alternate identity of Nathaniel Richards, who did not become Kang the Conqueror. Instead, he opted to travel through time to the past in order to share his knowledge and experiments on the subject. Unlike his focus on robotics in the past, it seems that Timely's main fascination in Loki season 2 will be time travel itself. Additionally, the trailers have not revealed any indication that Timely founded a town, served as its mayor, or established Timely Industries in the MCU's history.
Victor Timely's Role in Loki Season 2 Explained
In Loki season 2's trailers and Ant-Man 3's post-credits scene, we see Timely delivering a lecture at a fair attended by Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Agent Mobius (Owen Wilson), and the new TVA agent O.B. (Ke Huy Quan). Despite Loki's warning about Timely being a dangerous variant of He Who Remains, there's a significant moment where Timely is seen with Loki, Agent Mobius, and O.B., suggesting that he might offer his assistance in dealing with the ongoing time crisis at TVA, at least initially. It's possible that Timely could use the TVA to further his own agenda within the multiverse.
In the post-credits scene of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Timely's lecture is heard, where he tells the audience that while time shapes their lives, they have the power to shape time itself. The Loki trailers also show Timely activating a device on stage and discussing the difficult choices one must make when tampering with time and the multiverse, which mirrors Loki and Sylvie's struggle with playing God and deciding who lives and dies. This conflict between Timely and the protagonists is likely centered around his willingness to manipulate time without considering the consequences.
How Victor Timely Sets Up Kang For Avengers: The Kang Dynasty
With Phase 5 of the MCU's Multiverse Saga currently underway, Loki season 2 is poised to be a significant installment, much like its predecessor. It has been confirmed that the Multiverse Saga will reach its climax with both Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars. This indicates that the introduction of a new Kang variant in Loki season 2 will likely contribute to the setup for the Avengers' upcoming showdown against the tyrannical time-traveler and his various incarnations across the multiverse. Additionally, Victor Timely holds a unique position in shedding light on the mysteries of the multiverse, providing insights to both the MCU audience and viewers of the upcoming Disney+ show.
The introduction of multiple Kang variants in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, such as Immortus, Rama-Tut, the Centurion, and many others seen in a gathering, adds further intrigue to the role that Victor Timely will play in Loki season 2. It remains to be seen whether he is aligned with the MCU's Council of Kangs or if he is an independent variant, similar to the Kang who was banished to the Quantum Realm. Regardless, it is highly probable that Victor Timely will continue to contribute to the overarching narrative as the MCU progresses towards Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, set for release in 2026.